Clayton Hamburg and Kristin Hammargren share a moment in Optimist Theatre's production of "As You Like It."

Two weeks ago, director Tom Reed had fully intended to make another round of cuts to Shakespeare's "As You Like It" — slimming the run time to just over two hours — before Optimist Theatre opened its production in Riverwest's Kadish Park. Am I ever glad that he had second thoughts.

When Optimist's press preview performance ended Thursday night — two hours and 45 minutes after it began — my aching body was screaming for a seat cushion and the ground on which I was sitting was wet with dew. | July 12, 2013»Read Full Article

Seventy-five Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra musicians joined music director Edo de Waart and guest pianist Ingrid Fliter to play a matinee concert last Friday at the Marcus Center. That concert, featuring the music of Brahms, Chopin and contemporary composer Michael Ippolito, is one of 134 concerts the orchestra members are scheduled to play this year.

MSO musicians are not unlike nose tackles (though much lighter on their feet): individually skilled enough to have won competitive auditions for their jobs, but committed to expressing their talents almost anonymously in service of the orchestra. | Nov. 20, 2013»Read Full Article

Pastry chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, co-founder of Chicago’s French Pastry School and new author of “The Art of French Pastry,” will be the guest of honor at a five-course wine dinner and book signing Dec. 4 at Le Reve Patisserie & Cafe in Wauwatosa.

Pfeiffer also will be making other area appearances, including a book signing at MATC downtown on Dec. 5 and a dinner at Carnevor on Jan. 12. (Stay tuned for details.)

The menu for the Dec. 4 dinner is inspired by France’s Alsace region, where Pfeiffer grew up and began his career. Fittingly, it has two desserts: | Nov. 20, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

Milwaukee rapper Raze (Marquis Norris, 35) and Colin Plant, the 29-year-old rapper formerly known as Logic, share a couple similarities. They work in the tech field: Plant is a trainer for a software company; Norris works in information technology. They've also been fixtures for years in the local hip-hop community: Plant is part of the Hollowz; Raze was with late collective House of M; and they work together as well, as the duo L&R.

But as performers, and as people, they're pretty different. Plant is an introvert, while Raze is a self-proclaimed party kid, especially around the ladies. | Nov. 20, 2013»Read Full Article(1)

In its opening, "His Finest Hour" offers more evidence for the case that John Updike was put on this earth to describe things. Here's his description of a glass tumbler breaking in the apartment next door: | Nov. 20, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

That holiday clock is ticking: The Milwaukee city/county Christmas tree gets its glow at a tree-lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. in Red Arrow Park, with Mayor Tom Barrett, County Executive Chris Abele, actor John McGivern and the artist formerly known as Kris Kringle on hand. Holiday music and refreshments are on tap, too.

You've got just two more days till the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, so what better way to re-educate yourself on conspiracy than checking out "JFK," Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning 1991 epic that mastered the mystery? It's on the big screen today at 7 p.m. IPic Theater at Bayshore Town Center, and at 2 and 7 p.m. at AMC Mayfair Mall. | Nov. 20, 2013»Read Full Blog Post